Conceptualising the therapeutic alliance in intellectual disabilities
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Conceptualising the therapeutic alliance: exploring the relevance of Bordin’s model for adults with intellectual disabilities
IRAS ID
166798
Contact name
S K Cameron
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 25 days
Research summary
There is a great deal of research to suggest that all psychological therapies are equivalent in producing positive outcomes for clients. It is suggested that there are ‘common factors’ which are at least as significant than the approaches themselves in understanding what helps clients to benefit from psychological therapy. An important factor is the therapeutic alliance. The therapeutic alliance has been proposed to be linked to positive outcomes across a range of psychological therapies.
Currently there is are various ways of understanding the factors that result in a strong therapeutic alliance. Bordin (1979) proposed a model, which continues to be the most widely recognised. The model proposed the strength of the therapeutic alliance is based on three elements; agreement on goals, assignment of tasks and bond between therapist and client. This model applies across different therapies, however it has also been adapted for specific therapies and client groups, e.g. family therapy and offenders.
There is increasing recognition that psychological therapy, e.g. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy can be effective for emotional problems in clients with intellectual disabilities. It is also accepted that the therapeutic alliance is an important factor in therapy for this population. However, there has been little research on understanding the therapeutic alliance for this population; there has been very little gaining therapists' perspectives and none that has gained the views of people with intellectual disabilities themselves. Therefore, the present study aims to explore how well Bordin’s model explains the therapeutic alliance within therapy with people with intellectual disabilities.
Clients with intellectual disabilities currently engaged in psychological therapy and therapists delivering therapy with this population will be recruited through NHS specialist intellectual disabilities services. Data will be collected through semi- structured interviews designed to explore Bordin’s model. All interviews will be audio recorded, then transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.
REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NE/0068
Date of REC Opinion
9 Apr 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion